T20 World Cup 2024: India vs Pakistan match to stay in New York despite drop-in pitch concerns
India has privately expressed concerns about player safety due to the uneven bounce and inconsistent nature of the pitches. This concern is especially pressing with the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match scheduled for Sunday, expected to draw a full house of 32,000 spectators at Eisenhower Park.
The ICC has confirmed that there are no plans to relocate any T20 World Cup fixtures from the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, despite mounting concerns over pitch quality. Recent matches at this venue have underscored significant issues with the drop-in pitches.
ICC
Teams batting first have managed scores of just 77 and 96 in the two games played so far. BBC Sport reported that the India vs. Pakistan match will be played on an unused pitch, though it is unlikely to be much different as all four decks are drop-in wickets. However, ICC officials have not considered shifting the game to Texas or Florida, where natural pitches are available.
India has privately expressed concerns about player safety due to the uneven bounce and inconsistent nature of the pitches. This concern is especially pressing with the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match scheduled for Sunday, expected to draw a full house of 32,000 spectators at Eisenhower Park.
AP
The ICC is reportedly analyzing data from previous matches to determine the best course of action if further issues arise. Nonetheless, they have stated there are no contingency plans to move the New York matches to other venues like Florida or Texas, which have natural turf pitches. An unused pitch has been reserved for the India vs. Pakistan game, with the option to switch based on the performance of other pitches before the match.
Cricket fans can look forward to a series of thrilling matches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The upcoming schedule includes Canada vs. Ireland on Friday, June 7, Netherlands vs. South Africa on Saturday, June 8, India vs. Pakistan on Sunday, June 9, Bangladesh vs. South Africa on Monday, June 10, Canada vs. Pakistan on Tuesday, June 11, and USA vs. India on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
Each match promises intense cricket and excitement as teams navigate the challenges posed by the pitches. The cricket world will be closely watching how these games unfold. Going forward, it will be interesting to see if the ICC reconsiders its decision about moving matches from this stadium.
What is a drop-in pitch?
Instead of being prepared on-site, drop-in pitches are created off-location and then transported to the venue. These pitches are made using the same clay, soil, and grass as a traditional pitch, but their construction occurs in controlled environments before being dropped into place with cranes and can be removed once they are used.
Drop-in pitches offer a practical solution for venues that lack permanent cricket facilities or need to accommodate multiple sports. The ability to swap pitches in and out allows stadiums primarily used for other sports like baseball or football to host cricket matches.
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Although the concept seems modern, drop-in pitches originated in the late 1970s when Australian media mogul Kerry Packer rented out non-cricket venues for his breakaway World Series Cricket competition. Unable to use traditional cricket grounds, Packer's team prefabricated pitches and craned them into stadiums. He leased VFL Park (Melbourne), Football Park (Adelaide), Moore Park Showground (Sydney), and Gloucester Park (Perth).
The benefits of drop-in pitches include portability and the ability to curate pitches in controlled conditions. However, many argue that these surfaces may behave unpredictably compared to traditional in-ground pitches due to factors like transportation and adapting to new environments.
For the ongoing marquee event, the drop-in pitches at the Nassau County stadium were prepared in Adelaide, Australia by renowned curator Damian Hough before being shipped to New York. It remains uncertain if this new approach will succeed in providing reliable playing conditions.
The Indian team recently played at this venue for their first league match against Ireland and their only warm-up match against Bangladesh. The Men in Blue will also face Pakistan and the USA at this venue. A total of eight games are scheduled to be played at this stadium.
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